Kiosk for energy industry logistics
An automated kiosk and related apparatus provide check-in and boarding services to energy sector passengers, such as helicopter passengers. Preferably, the kiosk and related apparatus can take and store a picture of the passenger, calculate and/or measure the weight of the passenger and the passenger's luggage, print luggage tags and boarding printouts, check third parties' databases (such as a no-fly list (NFL)) for approval for the passenger's flight and can transmit data to another location (server, third party employer, pilot).
1. A kiosk apparatus for assisting a passenger preparing to embark on transportation within the energy industry, comprising:
an input device for allowing the passenger to input information;
a first display screen for displaying information;
a reader for reading at least one of TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) cards, credit cards, drivers licenses, passports, and fingerprints;
a scale operatively connected to the kiosk for weighing the passenger;
a printer or printers for printing boarding passes and luggage tags; and
a second display screen for allowing a representative of a helicopter flight company to observe what is displayed to the passenger on the first display screen.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger meets an energy company's screening requirements.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger's bag is fragile.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger's bag is overweight.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk prints boarding passes with the passenger's photo thereon.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk checks third parties' NFL (no-fly list) database for approval for the passenger's flight.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk transmits data to another location including a server, a third party employer, or a pilot.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the TWIC card reader for reading the passenger's TWIC card includes a contact reader.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the TWIC card reader for reading the passenger's TWIC card includes a contactless reader.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reader for reading the passenger's drivers license reads a 2D barcode on the back of the drivers license.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reader for reading the passenger's drivers license reads the drivers license optically to create an image then performs OCR (optical character recognition) on the image.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic stripe reader for reading magnetic strips on credit cards, drivers licenses, and passports.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a passport scanner that has an ability to read passports through scanning the passports' machine readable zone and optically with OCR technology.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a scale operatively connected to the kiosk for weighing luggage.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the printer prints the passenger's photo on the boarding pass.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the printer or printers prints color coded luggage tags.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a passport scanner.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a fingerprint scanner.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a camera for photographing the passenger.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk stands alone.
21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk is mounted to a wall.
22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk sits on a countertop.
23. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger is current in specified qualifications, such as HUET (Helicopter Underwater Egress Training).
24. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger is on a no fly list.
25. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the printer or printers prints symbol coded luggage tags.
26. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the printer or printers prints symbol coded luggage tags.
27. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the representative can override information input by the passenger.
28. A kiosk apparatus for assisting a passenger preparing to embark on transportation within the energy industry, comprising:
a touch display screen for allowing the passenger to input information;
a reader for reading at least one of TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) cards, credit cards, drivers licenses, passports, and fingerprints;
a scale operatively connected to the kiosk for weighing the passenger;
a printer or printers for printing boarding passes and luggage tags; and
a second display screen for allowing a representative of a helicopter flight company to observe what is displayed to the passenger on the touch screen.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the representative can override information input by the passenger.
30. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger meets an energy company's screening requirements.
31. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger is current in specified qualifications, such as HUET (Helicopter Underwater Egress Training).
32. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger is on a no fly list.
33. A method of using the apparatus of claim 1 to check in a passenger for energy industry transportation, comprising:
providing the apparatus of claim 1 ; and
allowing the passenger to input information.
34. A method of using the apparatus of claim 28 to check in a passenger for a helicopter flight, comprising:
providing the apparatus of claim 28 ; and
allowing the passenger to input information.
35. A kiosk apparatus for assisting a passenger preparing to embark on transportation within the energy industry, comprising:
a touch display screen for allowing the passenger to input information;
a reader for reading at least one of TWIC cards, credit cards, drivers licenses, passports, and fingerprints;
a printer or printers for printing at least one of boarding passes and luggage tags,
wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger meets an energy company's screening requirements, wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger is current in specified qualifications, such as HUET (Helicopter Underwater Egress Training).
36. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the kiosk transmits data to another location including a server, a third party employer, or a pilot.
37. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger's bag is fragile.
38. The apparatus of claim 35 , further comprising a scale operatively connected to the kiosk for weighing luggage.
39. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger's bag is overweight.
40. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the kiosk prints boarding passes with the passenger's photo thereon.
41. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the kiosk checks third parties' NFL (no-fly list) database for approval for the passenger's flight.
42. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the TWIC card reader for reading the passenger's TWIC card includes a contact reader.
43. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the TWIC card reader for reading the passenger's TWIC card includes a contactless reader.
44. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the reader for reading the passenger's drivers license reads a 2D barcode on the back of the drivers license.
45. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the reader for reading the passenger's drivers license reads the drivers license optically to create an image then performs OCR (optical character recognition) on the image.
46. The apparatus of claim 35 , further comprising a magnetic stripe reader for reading magnetic strips on credit cards, drivers licenses, and passports.
47. The apparatus of claim 35 , further comprising a passport scanner that has an ability to read passports through scanning the passports' machine readable zone and optically with OCR technology.
48. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the printer or printers prints the passenger's photo on the boarding pass.
49. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the printer or printers prints color coded luggage tags.
50. The apparatus of claim 35 , further comprising a passport scanner.
51. The apparatus of claim 35 , further comprising a fingerprint scanner.
52. The apparatus of claim 35 , further comprising a camera for photographing the passenger.
53. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the kiosk stands alone.
54. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the kiosk is mounted to a wall.
55. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the kiosk sits on a countertop.
56. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger is on a no fly list.
57. The apparatus of claim 49 , wherein the printer or printers prints symbol coded luggage tags.
58. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the printer or printers prints symbol coded luggage tags.
59. The apparatus of claim 35 , further comprising a scale or scales operatively connected to the kiosk for weighing at least one of the passenger and the passenger's luggage.
60. The apparatus of claim 35 , further comprising a second display screen for allowing a representative of a helicopter flight company to observe what is displayed to the passenger on the touch display screen, wherein the representative can override information input by the passenger.
61. A method of using the apparatus of claim 35 to check in a passenger for energy industry transportation, comprising:
providing the apparatus of claim 35 ; and
allowing the passenger to input information.
62. A kiosk apparatus for assisting a passenger preparing to embark on transportation within the energy industry, comprising:
a touch display screen for allowing the passenger to input information;
a reader for reading at least one of TWIC cards, credit cards, drivers licenses, passports, and fingerprints;
a printer or printers for printing at least one of boarding passes and luggage tags,
wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger meets an energy company's screening requirements, wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger is on a no fly list.
63. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the kiosk transmits data to another location including a server, a third party employer, or a pilot.
64. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger's bag is fragile.
65. The apparatus of claim 62 , further comprising a scale operatively connected to the kiosk for weighing luggage.
66. The apparatus of claim 65 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger's bag is overweight.
67. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the kiosk prints boarding passes with the passenger's photo thereon.
68. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the kiosk checks third parties' NFL (no-fly list) database for approval for the passenger's flight.
69. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the TWIC card reader for reading the passenger's TWIC card includes a contact reader.
70. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the TWIC card reader for reading the passenger's TWIC card includes a contactless reader.
71. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the reader for reading the passenger's drivers license reads a 2D barcode on the back of the drivers license.
72. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the reader for reading the passenger's drivers license reads the drivers license optically to create an image then performs OCR (optical character recognition) on the image.
73. The apparatus of claim 62 , further comprising a magnetic stripe reader for reading magnetic strips on credit cards, drivers licenses, and passports.
74. The apparatus of claim 62 , further comprising a passport scanner that has an ability to read passports through scanning the passports' machine readable zone and optically with OCR technology.
75. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the printer or printers prints the passenger's photo on the boarding pass.
76. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the printer or printers prints color coded luggage tags.
77. The apparatus of claim 62 , further comprising a passport scanner.
78. The apparatus of claim 62 , further comprising a fingerprint scanner.
79. The apparatus of claim 62 , further comprising a camera for photographing the passenger.
80. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the kiosk stands alone.
81. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the kiosk is mounted to a wall.
82. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the kiosk sits on a countertop.
83. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger is current in specified qualifications, such as HUET (Helicopter Underwater Egress Training).
84. The apparatus of claim 76 , wherein the printer or printers prints symbol coded luggage tags.
85. The apparatus of claim 62 , wherein the printer or printers prints symbol coded luggage tags.
86. The apparatus of claim 62 , further comprising a scale or scales operatively connected to the kiosk for weighing at least one of the passenger and the passenger's luggage.
87. The apparatus of claim 62 , further comprising a second display screen for allowing a representative of a helicopter flight company to observe what is displayed to the passenger on the touch display screen, wherein the representative can override information input by the passenger.
88. A method of using the apparatus of claim 62 to check in a passenger for a helicopter flight, comprising:
providing the apparatus of claim 62 ; and
allowing the passenger to input information.